Pant cuff rain guard accessory

ABSTRACT

A protective pant cuff rain guard accessory that attaches to the user&#39;s ankle and extends upward protecting the lower pant and cuff from outside weather elements such as water, dirt, and grime. Moreover, optionally, the clothing accessory can display a decorative design to enhance the stylistic appeal of a pair of pants enabling the wearer to demonstrate personal style which may be interchangeable.

This application is based upon and claims the priority filing date of the previously filed, copending U.S. Provisional patent application entitled “PANT CUFF RAIN GUARD ACCESSORY” filed Oct. 3, 2016, Ser. No. 62/403,650 the entire disclosure of which is hereby is herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates generally to the field of clothing accessories and, more particularly, to pant guards for protecting pant cuffs from outside weather elements, such as rain, snow, and standing water.

Those who wear pants and frequently travel outdoors frequently encounter weather elements such as rain storms, accumulate( snow and standing water. Moreover, people who wear pants or a type of lower leg garment, particularly children, accidentally step in water or get splashed by water caused from a moving ear or another pedestrian. This can be not only soak the lower leg, but soil the pant cuff with dirt, grime, and other unwanted dement changing the look and the feel of the pants, which can be very frustrating for the wearer.

The present invention provides an apparatus for reducing these problems. The difficulties inherent, in the an are therefore overcome in a way which is simple, user friendly, and efficient—which will provide better and more advantageous results.

SUMMARY

Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, what is needed is to provide a protective pant cuff rain guard accessory that attaches to the user's ankle and extends upward protecting the lower pant and cuff from outside weather elements such as water, dirt, and grime. Moreover, optionally, the clothing accessory can display a decorative design to enhance the stylistic appeal of a pair of pants enabling the wearer to demonstrate personal style which may be interchangeable.

In a version of the application, a clothing accessory is provided which is configured to envelope a user's ankle for protecting the ankle and pant cuff area from outdoor elements. The pant guard generally comprises a hollow body comprising: a lower end terminating at a lower opening having a lower perimeter; and an upper end opposite the lower end terminating at an upper opening having a an upper perimeter, wherein the upper and lower openings are generally circular in nature, the lower opening having a smaller diameter than the upper opening and an expandable means for positioned at the opening perimeter for permitting an increase or decrease in the circumference length, thereby allowing the lower opening to fit snugly about the user's ankle while worn.

In a version, the diameter of the hollow body increases from the lower opening to the upper opening and is made of a waterproof material, such as a clear plastic.

In a version of the application, at least a portion of the hollow body comprises an inner surface and an outer surface forming an inner pocket therebetween, wherein a portion of the outer surface is made of a clear plastic such that the inner pocket is visually seen.

In yet another version, the pant guard further comprises a visual exhibit insert positioned in the inner pocket for display of the decoration thereon.

In a version, the pant guard inner surface comprises a discontinuity and a flap that overlaps the discontinuity for purposes of providing ingress and egress to inner pocket, thereby allowing the user to insert their favorite visual exhibit insert at their choosing while utilizing the flap to seal off the inner pocket.

Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, arid accompanying drawings where;

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a version of the application;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the version shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the version shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the version shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative perspective view of the version shown in FIG. 1 as worn by the user;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a second version of the application;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the version shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the version shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a front cutaway view of version of the application; and

FIG. 10 is a front cutaway view, of a version of the application.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are only for purposes of illustrating a preferred version of the invention and not for purposes of limiting the same.

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary versions of the invention. The description is not to be taken in the limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Attention is directed to FIG. 1-FIG. 5 of the drawings, wherein a pant cuff rain guard clothing accessory is shown in accordance with a first version of the present invention and is shown in use and designated generally by reference numeral 10. The pant cuff is intended for use about the user's ankle area 90 or with a pair of pants 92 (FIG. 5) having a leg terminating at a lower end which may include a bottom cuff of pant cuff area. The pants 92 may be of any style of design for men, women, boys, and girls. With that said, the pant cull 10 is generally used to provide a barrier between the pant cuff or the user's ankle and the outside elements such as rain, standing water, dirt, grime, salt and snow.

In a first version, the pant cuff 10 comprises a gel orally hollow body 12 having a flexible annular wall 14. The hollow body 12 is generally concentric in cross-section or circular in nature increasing in diameter from a lower end 16 to an upper end 18. In the version, the lower end 16 terminates at a lower opening 20 having a lower perimeter 22, and the upper end 18 terminates at an upper opening 24 having an upper perimeter 26. In the version, the diameter of the upper opening 24 is larger than the diameter of the lower opening 20 for reasons detailed below. Generally, the diameter of the hollow body 12 is configured to sufficiently encompass a user's lower leg or ankle portion.

In a version of the application, the lower perimeter 22 of the lower opening 20 is lined with an expandable means 28 which operates to expand and contract the diameter of the lower opening 20 or for permitting an increase or decrease in the circumference length of the lower perimeter 22, thereby allowing the lower opening 20 to fit smugly about the user's ankle while worn. During use, this operates to provide a tight fit around the user's ankle while preventing water and other elements from entering the lower opening 20 and simultaneously maintaining the position of the pant cuff on the user's leg. The expandable means 28 can be any device which allows the lower opening 20 to expand and contract such as an elastic band, lacing, belt with buckle, etc. In a version, a decorative pattern 50 may further line the lower opening 20 about the lower perimeter 22.

In a version of the application, the pant cuff flexible annular wall 14 is made of a continuous unitary sheet of material. The hollow body 12, particularly the flexible annular wall 14, can be made of all types of material such as cloth, plastic, or nylon which are transparent, solid or a combination thereof. Optionally, the exterior of the annular wall 14 may include a visual exhibit 30 which nay be decorative art, graphics, logos, or other aesthetic designs.

In other versions, as best illustrated in FIG. 6 FIG. 9, the flexible annular wall 14 comprises an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34 which form an inner pocket 36 or space therebetween. Preferably, at least the outer surface 34 is in part made of clear plastic such that the inner pocket 34 can be visually seen therethroughy. The inner pocket 36 is configured for receipt of a visual exhibit insert 38 such as a sheet of material displaying graphics, logos, or other aesthetic designs as desired by the user. For example, in version of the invention, the visual exhibit insert 38 is a sheet of paper or cloth containing indicia and art which is configured to be, shown outward from the user's leg.

As illustrated best by FIG. 6-FIG. 10, a version of the application may further comprise a lateral discontinuity or slot 40 which is configured to provide ingress and egress to the inner pocket 36. Thus, the visual exhibit insert 38 can be inserted into the slot 40 and into the pocket 36, thereby visually exposing the art outwards for display, yet protected from the elements. Optionally, as illustrated by FIG. 10, a flap 42 is provided which overlaps the discontinuity or slot 40 which acts as a barrier between the interior of the inner pocket 36 and the outside elements, further protecting the contents of the inner pocket 36.

In a version of the application, the flexible annular wall 12 is made of a sheet of material which folded to form the hollow body 12 having lateral edges 44, 46 which connect at a seem for ease of construction and fitting about the user's ankle. In certain versions, a means for connecting the lateral edges 44, 46 is provides. For example, the means for connecting 48 may be a zipper, hook and loop fasteners, or button snaps. Generally, the means for connecting can be any configuration that fastens the lateral edges together.

The use of the pant guard accessory will now be described in detail. Referring to FIG. 5, the user positions their foot into the upper opening 24, pulling their leg into the hollow body 12 positioning the lower opening 20 at the user's ankle while the hollow body 12 envelopes the user's lower legs, pants, and cuff. The user applies a second pant guard accessory to the opposing leg in a similar manner. In other version, the user fastens the means for connecting 48, securing each pant guard accessory. The pant guard accessory is ideally worn during travel while walking outside.

The invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every version of the invention.

Although preferred versions of the invention have been described in considerable detail, other versions of the invention are possible.

All the features disclosed in this specification (including and accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pant guard configured to envelope a user's ankle for protecting the ankle and pant cuff area from outdoor elements, the pant guard comprising a hollow body comprising: a lower end terminating at a lower opening having a lower perimeter; and an upper end opposite the lower end terminating at an upper opening having a an upper perimeter, wherein the upper and lower openings are generally circular in nature, the lower opening having a smaller diameter than the upper opening and an expandable means for positioned at the opening perimeter fur permitting an increase or decrease in the circumference length, thereby allowing the lower opening to fit snugly about the user's ankle while worn.
 2. The pant guard of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the hollow body increases from the lower opening to the upper opening.
 3. The pant guard of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is made of a waterproof material.
 4. The pant guard of claim 3, wherein the material is made of plastic.
 5. The pant guard of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the hollow body comprises an inner surface and an outer surface forming an inner pocket therebetween.
 6. The pant guard of claim 5, wherein a portion of the outer surface is made of a clear plastic such that the inner pocket is visually seen.
 7. The pant guard of claim 6, wherein the pant guard further comprises a visual exhibit insert positioned in the inner pocket for display of the decoration thereon.
 8. The pant guard of claim 7, wherein the inner surface comprises a discontinuity for purposes of providing ingress and egress to inner pocket, thereby allowing the user to insert their favorite visual exhibit insert at their choosing.
 9. The pant guard of claim 7, wherein the inner surface comprises a discontinuity and a flap that overlaps the discontinuity for purposes of providing ingress and egress to inner pocket, thereby allowing the user to insert their favorite visual exhibit insert at their choosing while utilizing the flap to seal off the inner pocket.
 10. A pant guard configured to envelope a user's ankle for protecting the ankle and pant cuff area from outdoor elements, the pant guard comprising a hollow body comprising: a lower end terminating at a lower opening having a perimeter; and an upper end opposite the lower end terminating at an upper opening having a perimeter, wherein the upper and lower openings are generally circular in nature, the lower opening having a smaller diameter than the upper opening and an expandable means positioned at the opening perimeter for permitting an increase or decrease in the circumference length, thereby allowing the lower opening to fit snuggly about the user's ankle while worn; wherein at least a portion of the hollow body comprises an inner surface and an outer surface forming an inner pocket therebetween; wherein a portion of the outer surface is made of a clear plastic such that the inner pocket is visually seen.
 11. The pant guard of claim 10, wherein the pant guard further comprises a visual exhibit insert positioned in the inner pocket for display of the decoration thereon.
 12. The pant guard of claim 10, wherein the inner surface comprises a discontinuity for purposes of providing ingress and egress to inner pocket, thereby allowing the user to insert their favorite visual exhibit insert at their choosing.
 13. The pant guard of claim 12, wherein the inner surface comprises a discontinuity and a flap that overlaps the discontinuity for purposes of providing ingress and egress to inner pocket, thereby allowing the user to insert their desired visual exhibit insert at their choosing while utilizing the flap to seal off the inner pocket.
 14. A pant guard configured to envelope, a user's ankle for protecting the ankle and pant cuff area from outdoor elements, the pant guard comprising a hollow body comprising: a lower end terminating at a lower opening having a perimeter; and an upper end opposite the lower end terminating at an upper opening having a perimeter, wherein the upper and lower openings are generally circular in nature, the lower opening having a smaller diameter than the upper opening and an expandable means positioned at the opening perimeter for permitting an increase or decrease in the circumference length, thereby allowing the lower opening to fit snuggly about the user's ankle while worn; wherein at least a portion of the hollow body comprises an inner surface and an outer surface forming an inner pocket therebetween; wherein a portion of the outer surface is made of a clear plastic such that the inner pocket is visually seen; wherein the inner surface comprises a discontinuity and a flap that overlaps the discontinuity for purposes of providing ingress and egress to inner pocket, thereby allowing the user to insert their favorite visual exhibit insert at their choosing while utilizing the flap to seal off the inner pocket.
 15. The pant guard of claim 14, wherein the pant guard further comprises a visual exhibit insert positioned in the inner pocket for display of the decoration thereon. 